Kanaka for Active Directory™
Simplify Mac access to Microsoft networks through the single login approach of Kanaka for Active Directory.
Kanaka for Active Directory™ provides Mac OS X users single login access to Microsoft network home directory and collaborative storage resources in Active Directory. As an identity-based product, Kanaka for Active Directory utilizes Microsoft Active Directory to view network user and collaborative storage attributes that pertain to a user and then mounts the storage resources accordingly.
Kanaka brings together native Mac OS X technology, standard Active Directory authentication, and Microsoft File systems. Kanaka communicates with Active Directory to perform user authentication and retrieve identity information in order to automatically mount both user home folders and collaborative storage resources located on Microsoft servers via the SMB protocol. Users can authenticate and access Microsoft network storage through either the Kanaka Plug-in, or the Kanaka Desktop Client.
The unique approach to providing Macintosh OS X workstation users automated single login access to Microsoft Active Directory storage resources from Kanaka for Active Directory™ includes an extensive set of features unavailable in other products or custom-integrated solutions.
- Single login access to Microsoft Active Directory storage resources
- Flexible login options
- Plug-in authentication and access option
- Client authentication and access option
- Apple Mobile Account support
- Plug-in Console for viewing and managing identity configurations
- No Active Directory schema extension required
Simplified, Single Login Access Access to network storage areas—even if they are dispersed among various server shares—are accessed through a single username and password in the Login Window (Kanaka Plug-in option) or client dialog box (Kanaka Desktop Client option).
Flexible Methods of Access Depending on how the user wants to access Active Directory storage resources, the Kanaka for Active Directory™ user can authenticate during workstation login or later through a client login process. The Kanaka Plug-in mounts Active Directory storage resources following workstation login in the Login Window. The Kanaka Desktop Client mounts Active Directory storage resources following client login.
Mobile Access Allows for mobile access of network storage areas. Improves login access times and synchronizes storage content between the network home folder and a cloned home folder on the Mac hard drive, making access to network stored content available even when you cannot get on the network.
Offload Account Management to Users Plug-in Console options let users view select user account information, monitor their storage quota, and change their Active Directory password.
No Schema Extension Needed Unlike some competitive offerings, Kanaka for Active Directory and its approach to management, eliminates the need for the Active Directory schema be extended.
Kanaka for Active Directory™ has an Engine and a management interface. The requirements for both are detailed below.
Kanaka Engine
- Microsoft Server 2008 or greater
- Microsoft Windows 7 workstation
Management Interface
- Internet Explorer
- Firefox
- Safari
- Chrome
Q: Kanaka for Active Directory™ includes a Kanaka Plug-in and a Kanaka Desktop Client. What is the difference between the two?
A: A plug-in is something that the end user never sees. For example, a common plug in to Internet browsers is the Adobe Flash Plug-in. The Kanaka Plug-in provides authentication to Mac OS X through the native loginwindow interface. The Kanaka Desktop Client is an application that can be used to login and mount storage resources.
Q: Is Kanaka licensed according to the number of users or the number of machines?
A: Kanaka for Active Directory is licensed according the number of machines on which the Kanaka Plug-in or Kanaka Desktop Client is installed.
Q: What is the difference between subscription and Licensing + Maintenance for Kanaka for Active Directory?
A: Subscription means that the Kanaka software is enabled for one year and includes software maintenance, upgrade protection, and support. Near the end of the subscription cycle, you are notified of the need to renew the subscription in order to continue to use Kanaka. Unless the Kanaka subscription is renewed, Kanaka will be disabled 13 months after the date that the Kanaka licenses were issued.
Licensing + Maintenance means that the software license is purchased and owned by the purchaser. Maintenance, upgrade protection, and support are included during the first 12 months following the purchase of the licenses. To continue maintenance, upgrade protection, and support after the first 12 months, you must purchase a yearly Maintenance contract.
Q: Does Kanaka for Active Directory require that the Active Directory schema be extended?
A: Unlike some competitive Mac OS X authentication and access solutions for Active Directory, Kanaka for Active Directory does not require an Active Directory schema extension. This is the Kanaka Engine component manages all of the data that other solutions would manage in Active Directory.
Q: How is Kanaka installed?
A: All the components for Kanaka for Active Directory are located on the Kanaka-2.5.0.iso file. After downloading and mounting the ISO image, you can install the Kanaka Engine, Kanaka plug-in and/or Desktop Client through the HTML installation interface located in the HTML directory of the ISO.
Install using the 32- or 64-bit version of the Kanaka MSI file. Following its installation and initial configuration, the Kanaka Engine must be configured through its Web interface.
For procedures on these steps see the Kanaka for Active Directory Mac Installation and Administration Guide.
Q: We currently have Kanaka for eDirectory running in our Novell network, but we’re planning to remove our Novell network and replace it with Microsoft. Is it possible to replace our current Kanaka licenses from one platform to another without purchasing new licenses altogether?
A: Condrey Corporation has a separate product SKU and licensing discounts for Kanaka customers who are changing from Kanaka for eDirectory to Kanaka for Active Directory. For details, contact sales@condreycorp.com.
